Fork.



E. ANDERSON.

FORK.

PPUCATION mg ELMER ANDERSON, F PALMYRA TOWNSHIP, IRENVILLE COUNTY,IvIINNEEiOTA.

FORK.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

lPatented Jan. 23, 191?.

Application filed August 3, 1916. Serial Il'o. 112,996.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States,residing in Palmyra township, in the county of Renville and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Forks,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pitch-forks or the like, and hasparticular reference to means for connecting the fork or ground treatingimplement with the handle, so that such connection will yield or breakwhen an excessive load is placed upon the fork, thus relieving thedevice of undue strains and preventing injury thereto.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovementioned character, which is simple in construction, strong, durable,and highly convenient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame, Figure 1 is a plan view of a device embodying the invention, Fig.2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 isa transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, and, Fig. 4: isa detail horizontal section taken on line 11 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a handle,carrying a shank 6, rigidly secured thereto by any suitable means. Thisshank is provided with a longitudinally extending surface groove 7,having recesses 8 and 9, and an opening 9, as shown.

T he numeral 10 designates an implement, such as a pitch-fork, providedwith a shank 11. This shank extends into the longitudinal groove 7 andis provided near its inner end with a longitudinal slot 12. This slotreceives a transverse pin or pivot element 13, secured to the shank 6.From the foregoing description it is obvious that the implement shank 11may be swung upon its pivot 13 and moved longitudinally with respect tothe handle shank 6.

Rigidly secured to the shank 11 and preferably formed integral therewithare cams or members having inclined faces li and 15, the inner cam 1%having the greater width. The cams 1d and 15 are adapted to contact withpreferably rolled ends 18 of a cu ved spring 19. This curved springstraddles the forward end portion of the handle shank 6 and is attachedthereto, as shown at 20, in proximity to the recess 9. The recess 9 isin communication with openings or notches 21, receiving the ends of thespring 19.

In operation, when the shank 11 is in the inner longitudinal positionwith respect to the handle shank 6, the ends of the spring 19 contactwith the cam 15. It is thus apparent that the spring 19 will normallyretain the shank 11 within the groove 7 and prevent its lateral movementwith respect to the handle shank 6. When the fork 10 engages the work tobe raised and pressure is applied thereto, in excess, the tension of thespring 19 is overcome and the joint will break or yield, the shankllswinging downwardly or in the direction of the arrow, as shown in Fig.2.

When the fork 11 is in the lateral outer position, it may be movedforwardly longitudinally and the cam 1% moved into the recess 9, whilethe cam 15 is arranged be yond the forward end of the shank 6, the

spring 19 engaging the cam 1%. As this cam 14 is thicker than the cam15, the spring 19 will be placed under greater tension, and an increasedpressure is necessary to yield or break the connection between the forkor implement and handle. It is thus apparent that the connecting meansis adjustable for enabling the device to raise different loads. 7

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having ,thus described the invention, l claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a handle having ashank provided with a longitudinal opening and a recess in communicationwith the longitudinal opening, an implement having a shanklongitudinally adjustably mounted within the longitudinal opening andprovided with an enlarged member for insertion within the recess to lockthe implement shank against longitudinal movement with relation to thehandle shank, and yielding means adapted to oppose the lateral movementof the implement shank With relation to the handle shank.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a handle having ashank provided With a longitudinal opening and a plurality of recessesleading into the long tudinal opening, an implement having a shanklongitudinally adjustably mounted Within the longitudinal opening andprovided with a plurality of cams adapted for insertion Within therecesses, and a laterally extending spring secured to the handle shankand adapted to contact with a selected cam.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a handle having ashank pro- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing vided with a longitudinal opening and a plurality of recessesleading into the longitudinal opening, an implement having a shanklongitudinally adjustably mounted Within the longitudinal opening andhaving a longitudinal slot formed therein and a plurality oI camsadapted for insertion Within the recesses, a pin secured to the handleshank and passing through the slot of the implement shank, and asubstantially U- shaped spring straddling the handle shank and securedthereto and adapted to contact with a selected cam.

in testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ELMER ANDERSON. Witnesses FRANK HoPKiNs, GLADYS Hormns.

the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

